Cleaning apparatus.



A. H. SQUIER. CLEANING APPARATUS.

Patented June 21, 1910.

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Wilnuoeo A. H. SQUIER. CLEANING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYQ, 1908.

961,816, Patented June 21,1910.

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ARTHUR H. SQUIEB, OF PHILADELPHIA,

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB OF ELEVEN- FIFTEENTHS TO THE AIR CLEANER COMPANY,A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CLEANING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Application filed May 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR H. SQUIER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCleaning Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to cleaning apparatus and has for an object theprovision of means which are adapted to operate for cleaning either witha suction curren or a blast current o fsair an d nleans connected withthe't'aiiE for using the vacuum or compressed air and cleaning liquidsingularly or in combination, as may be desired.

Vith these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of oneembodiment of the present invention, certain parts being broken away.Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is asection through a baffling device, embodying certain features of theinvention. Fig. 4 is a section through Fig. 8 on line 44. Fig. 5 is adetail View of the means of securing the reservoir closure in position.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a base more clearlyshown in Fig. 1. The base 1 may be made from any kind of strongmaterial, but preferably out of a strip of iron. The frame 1 also isbent upward at 4 in order to permit a tank 5 to be positioned higher upor farther from the floor than the motor 6.

Mounted upon the end of frame 1 is a motor 6 which may be of any desiredkind as, for instance, an electric motor or other convenient powermachine, but preferably I use the electric motor and provide a switch 7that may be thrown from one position to the other for reversing therotation of an armature 8 of the motor for permitting a pulley 9 to bedriven in either direction. A suitable nheostatrIQias provided for usein starting. Positioned adjacent to motor 6,

and preferably on top thereof, is a pump 11 that is adapted to berotated in either direction and to be reversed whenever armature 8 isreversed. A pulley 12 is provided for pump 11 for accommodating a belt13 which in addition to engaging pulley 12 engages pulley 9 which ismoved by armature 8. By this construction and arrangement the directionof rotation of pump 11, which is prcferably a rotatory pump, is governedby the direction of the rotation of armature 8, and

armature 8 is rotated one way or the other as may be desired by varyingthe position of switch 7.

Connected to pump 11 is a pipe 14 that is in turn connected with tank 5.By this means either a suction current or a blast current may be used bya nozzle 15 in any desired manner, the blast being provided by pump 11when rotating in one direction, and a suction being provided when thepump is rotated in the opposite direction, the pump being of any commonand well known reversible type, and not here shown in detail. Tank 5 maybe constructed in any desired way, to insure strength. A cover 16 isprovided for tank 5 and is held in position by means of pivot screwbolts 17 The screw bolts 17 are pivotally mounted upon ears 18projecting from covering 16 and are adapted to pass through ears 19projecting from the main body portion of the tank 5. A thumb nut 20 isprovided for screws 17 so that when thumb nut 20 is screwed down cars 18and 19 will be drawn toward each other for firmly holding cover 16 inposition, and for grasping or clamping firmly an elastic gasket 21 whichis positioned between the main body portion of tank 5 and cover 16 forforming a tight joint therebetween. By this means cover 16 may beremoved or placed in position quickly and correctly, without theexercise of extraordinary skill or care. Connected with tank 5 is asafety valve 22 of the usual and ordinary type which is adapted torelieve either inward or outward pressure after the same has risen abovea certain predetermined extent or condition. Valve 22 may be regulatedfor relieving tank 5 at different pressures so that by the positioningof valve 22 in a certain way the operator will know that he is notoperating beyond a certain tension either in the use of compressed airor suction. Connected with pipe 14 is a pipe 23 that in turn hasconnected thereto a water baflier 24 which is constructed with aplurality of frusto-conical members 25 and 26 through which air isforced into tank 5 or removed therefrom. The baffler operates to throwthe splash water out of range of the suction. A screen 27, is mounted inmember 25 so as to positively prevent any foreign substance from passingupward through pipe 23 and pipe 14 into the pump when the pump is actingas a suction pump. This screen is not absolutely necessary when usingthe apparatus in cleaning, but it is preferable as it is adapted topositively prevent any matter from clogging the pump. Conical shapedmember 26 is secured to member 25 by means of a plurality of rods 28.Member 26 is of such a size as to extend beyond member 25, as clearlyseen in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the suction current or blast current isadapted to pass between the respective supporting members 28 into theconical-shaped member 26. A comparatively small opening 29 is providedin the lower end of member 26.

Tank 5 is adapted to be partially filled with a cleaning liquid, aswater 30, to any desired level, but below bafller 2 1. A suitable spigotor cock 31 is provided so as to indicate when the water in the tank hasreached a suflicient level.

Positioned in tank 5, preferably centrally thereof, is a pipe 32 thathas secured to the lower end thereof a disk or baffling member 33 forspreading the air and dirt as the same enters the tank, Pipe 32 isconnected to a pipe 3 1 which extends to the outer surface of the tank 5and has secured thereto a valve 35 that is preferably a three-way valve.Connected to the three-way valve 35 is a hose 36 which in turn hasconnected to the outer end thereof nozzle 15 which may be of any desiredconstruction. Connected to three-way valve 35 is also a pipe 37 whichpasses downward and enters tank 5 at 38.

In operation when it is desired to clean an object the same may becleaned by a blast of compressed air or by suction, or by the use ofboth as may be desired. In addition the object may be cleaned by the useof a cleaning liquid, as water, and then the water removed by suction,the dirt being suspended in the water and consequently being removed sothat after the articlehas been cleaned by the water, and then the waterremoved, the article will be left cleaned and dried. In accomplishingthis the water is thrown on any object, or the pump 11 is caused toforce air into tank 5and force water therefrom through the nozzle 15upon the object, the pump is stopped and then the object is scrubbed bya brush or other like article. After the scrubbing operation the pump 11is started in a direction to cause a vacuum to be created in tank 5.Nozzle 15 is then moved over the object being cleaned, and pressedagainst the same, the vacuum in tank 5 will cause the water upon thearticle being cleaned, together with some air, to be drawn through tube36 and discharged through tube 32 into water 30. After an article hasbeen cleaned or a considerable surface has been cleaned as a large flooror carpet and the water 30 has become dirty the same may be easily andquickly emptied and fresh water supplied. Preferably the valve 35 isturned so that any suction created by pump 11 will cause air to passupward to tube 36, pipe 37 and from thence to the bottom of tank 5, fromwhich it passes upward through the water, and finally reaches the pump.This will cause the water to be stirred, and all the dirt not alreadysuspended in the water will be suspended therein by the agitation of thewaterj After the water has been thoroughly stirred the pump 11 is causedto force air through the tank 5, and thus forces all the water outthrough the pipe 37, hose 36, and nozzle 15, nozzle 15 having beenpreviously placed in the sewer or other place where the discharge isdesired to be made. After all the dirty water has thus been dischargednozzle 15 may be placed in a receptacle having clean Water therein, andpump 11 reversed so as to draw water into tank 5. After water has beendrawn into tank 5 until the same has reached a level with cook 31, theapparatus is ready for another operation.

If it is desired to use compressed air for 1 cleaning, the tank shouldbe cleaned of any liquid and compressed air provided for tank 5, andfrom thence lead to nozzle 15 for use as may be desired.

It will be observed that a complete cleaning outfit is compacted into asmall space and arranged to be moved from place to place. Suitablebearing members, as wheels 6060 and 61 are provided for frame 1, formore easily moving the same, wheel 61 being adapted to act in the mannerof a caster or swivel wheel, so that easy turning may be provided.Handles 6262 are also provided for use in moving or pushing theapparatus from place to place.

In assembling, the motor 6 and tank 5 with the base 1, motor 6 ispreferably simply set on the rear part of the base 1, and securedthereto by any desired means, and tank 5 is set upon the front part ofbase 1, or if desired a plate 63 is placed upon the front part of base1, and tank 5 is placed thereon.

After the various parts have been assembled, as shown in the drawing,and particularly in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the apparatus is in conditionfor operation whenever the motor is connected to a source of current.

What I claim is:

1. A cleaning apparatus comprising a tank arranged to contain a cleaningliquid, a nozzle, means connecting the tank and the nozzle, means forforcing the cleaning liquid from the tank, and means for reversing saidliquid forcing means whereby a partial vacuum is created in vthe tankfor drawing said cleaning liquid back into said tank.

2. A cleaning apparatus comprising a rotating pump, means for reversingthe same, whereby a blast current Will be provided when rotated in onedirection and a suction when rotated in the opposite direction, a

10 pipe connection with the pump, a tank in communication With saidpipe, a nozzle, in communication With said tank, and means forpreventing any dirt passing through the nozzle from entering said pump.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature is in presence of twoWitnesses.

ARTHUR H. SQUIER. Witnesses J. WARREN DAVIS, JAMES MORAN DAVIS.

